Did you know

AUCKLAND’S televised Sunday afternoon rugby matches go slightly past official sundown triggering the requirement of a Resource Consent. The cost to the Rugby Union for this: $10,000 

THE FORERUNNER to the modern storage battery was built by Alessandro Volt in 1799. The key to his invention was a pile of zinc and silver discs alternating with each other and separated by cardboard discs  soaked in brine. This produced a steady flow of electricity when a wire was connected to the top and bottom of the pile.

THERE ARE thirteen deaths a day due to smoking related diseases. And yet there are still half a million regular smokers in New Zealand.

IRONY:  On the same day that NZ’s Covid-19 border controls were proven to be very far from perfect the International Research Unit  ranked NZ to be first among twenty one OECD countries  for it’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis

‘WANT TO KNOW what God thought of money? Look at the guys he gives it to.’ Dorothy Parker.

THE AMERICAN House of Representatives , Congress, has passed numerous bills this term, including measures to reduce climate change, enhance election security, require background checks on gun sales, re-authorize the Violence Against Women Act and reform campaign finance. All are languishing in Senate Chairman McConnell’s inbox. President Trump doesn’t want to know about them.

THE CHINESE invention , gunpowder, was not only used for fireworks Jaio Yu’s fourteenth century book describes land and sea mines, rockets and hollow cannon balls filled with explosives.  

‘THE ONLY difference between death and taxes is that death doesn’t get worse’. – Will Rogers 

BUY LOCAL MADE we are urged, but local isn’t always what it seems. Watties asparagus comes from Peru and it’s Apricots from South Africa. It’s popular Pom Poms come from Belgium. Tip Top lemonade ice blocks are made in Australia. Sunny Hill Kumara chips come from China and many of Griffins biscuits are now made in Thailand. It pays to check the labels when shopping. About 60% of pork comes from overseas so always check for the 100% NZ pork label when buying. 

THE AMERICAN spacecraft Viking landed on Mars on July 20 th 1976 and began sending back photos of the planet. 

The deadline for the August issue is 4pm Wednesday July 29^.  th However it is always very helpful to the Star team if you can have your copy in well before the deadline.

^Ho